Cotton-stalk puller and cutter.



L. WALTERS.

I COTTON STALK FULLER AND CUTTER.

APPLICATION HLD MAR.10.1914.

1,148,878. Patented Aug. 3,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET- l.

L. WALTERS.

COTTON STALK PULLER AND CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.10. 1914.

1,148,878. Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I y n K 3 Z. fifa Zeng COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co., wASHxNoToN. D. c.

L. WALTERS.

COTTON STALK FULLER AND CUTTER.

APPLxcATloN FILED MAR.10,1914.

1,148,878. Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@Trium/vbo@ 'OLUMBM PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. i.

L. WALTERS.

COTTON STALK FULLER AND CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I0I |914.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH CD., WASHINGTON. D. C.

LONNIE WALTERS, 0F LAVONIA, GEORGIA.

COTTON-STARK PULLER AND CUTTER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Ang. 3, 1915.

Application led March 10, 1914. Serial No. 823,723.

To all whom it may concern: f

Be it known that I, LoNNIE WALTERS, citizen of the United States, residing at Lavonia, in the county of Franklin and. State of Georgia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Stalky Pull*- ers and Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton stalk pullers and cutters, and has as its object to provide a machine which will, as it is drawn along rows of stalks, pull the stalks by the roots and cut the same into relatively short lengths.

The machine embodying the present invention presents an advantage over the ordinary cotton chopper in that the stalks are pulled by the roots, asy distinguished `from being chopped olf close to the ground leaving a stubble and in that the stalks are cut in short lengths, which are deposited upon the ground to supply humus.

Briefly stated, the machine embodying the present invention comprises a main and an auxiliary frame, upon which latter are mounted the stalk pulling and stalk cutting mechanisms, and it is one aim of the invention to provide means for bodily raising and loweringthe said auxiliary frame and for raising and lowering either end thereof.l so that the said mechanisms may be adjusted to the most advantageous position for operating upon the stalks depending upon the prevalent conditions.

Another aim of the invention is to provide means for positively directing the pulled stalks toward the cutting mechanism and presenting the stalks in proper position to be acted upon thereby.

The invention further aims to so construct the cutting mechanism that the stalks will be cut with a shear cut and will not be likely to be merely bent or broken.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means Afor preventing the stalks slipping from the stalk pulling disks after they havey been pulled and before they are presented to the cutting mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 9.. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating` means for raising and lowering the rear end of the auxiliary frame. Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of the cutting mechanism. Fig. 7 is a sectional perspective view, illustrating the manner of mounting the stalk pulling disks. Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating a portion of the edge of one of the disks.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings'by the same reference characters.

The machine embodying the present `invention includesy a main frame, indicated in general bythe reference character A and an auxiliary frame, indicated by the reference character B. Both of these frames are preferably formed from L-angle iron, and the main frame includes side members 1 and a front connecting member2, the frame being open at its rear end. The auxiliary frame includes side members 3 and a rear connectingmember L1. An axle 5 is mounted in bearings 6 upon` the under side of the main frame, yand this axle serves to support the main frame, which latter in turn supports the auxiliary frame in a manner which will presently be described. Wheels 7 aremounted at the ends 'of the axle 5 and are connected for forward rotation with the axle by means of a ratchet mechanism 8, the said ratchet mechanism providing for ready turning movement of the machine. A crosspiece 9 extends transversely between the side members l of the main frame and spaced bars l0 extend rearwardly from the connecting member 2 of the said main frame and are secured at their rear ends tothe said cross-piece 9. A tongue 11 is mounted beneath the forward portion of the main frame and carries the usual double-tree 12: The auxiliary frame is supported at both its forward andrear end`s,and, as before stated, means is provided for raising and lowering each ofits said ends. The means for supporting the forward end of the auxiliary frame will now be described. A sleeve shaft 13 is mounted for oscillatory movement upon the axle 5 and extends between the side members 1 of the main frame.

The numeral 11 indicates segmental racks, each of which is provided with a collar 15 secured upon the sleeve shaft 13 by means of a set bolt 16. Two of these racks are employed andthey are arrangedI at the ends of the said sleeve shaft. as will be apparent by reference to Fig'. 2 of the drawinga The operators seat is vindicated by the numeral 17 and is preferably supported upon the rear end cf the tongue-11 and fixed upon the sleeve shaft 13 atone side of the said seat 17, as indicated by the numerahl,r is e hand lever 1'9 which may be grasped, frm

the purpose of'rockingthe said sleeve shaft upon the axle 5, it beinggunderstood that v upon such movement of the sleeve shaft, the segmentalracks :1.4 will be correspondinglyi'moved. In orderthat the sleeve shaft 13 'maybe held at various/positions of an gularadjustm'ent, a pawl mechanism'i-s provided for`v coperatipnl with the 'said seg-- mental racks.4 This mechanism yincludes a shaft 2O which is mounted4 for rocking 'movement" at vits `ends in bearings y21 upon the' i., side members" 1 ofy the main frame.1 Fixed `uponrthe said shaft-in advance-ofleach 1.1. segmental rack. A y

f. mav berocked so as to move the pawls 22 into and out of engagement with the Asegof Athev segmental yracks is a pawl22 having a squared end 23 designed to snugly engage between vadjacent teethof the respective In order that thefshaft 20 mental racks, a foot lever 24` is secured `to the said shaft 20 approximately in front of the operatorsiseat 17. It will now be apparent thatwhen it is desired torock `oran- .gularly adjust the'sleeve shaft 13- the foot lever '24 is pressedforwardly to disengage the'pawlsy from the. segmentalracks, ywhere- 1 1 uponft-he lever 19 maybe rocked to secure thedesired adjustment.y `After such adjust- -ment has been secured, the foot lever is returned to normal position so kas to bring the pawls into coperative engagement with ,the

racks, ywhereupon ,the shaft will be held at adjustment. 1

A bearing'memberv 25v is secured to the forward end ofeach ofthe side members 3 of the auxiliary frame and includes spaced forwardly extending arms 26 having bearings 27 atrtheirends",- in which bearingsis ro- .tatably4 mounted a "shafty 28. :The arms 26 end of the auxiliary frame-will be lowered,

and;v when the racks areI swung upwardly, the-said end of. the frame willt'be raised. Therefore,`by"adjusting the sleeve shaft'l1`3 through manipulation "of the lhand lever 19,

fthe forwardend of the auxiliary framemay .belfraised orflowered asidesiredf'by. the operator-of the machine and may be held at the desired adjustment. Braces are preferably secured `to the 4sleeve shaft 13 and to thefsegmental 'racks 14 so as to brace the racks against any tendency towardv lateral displacement. The means provided for bers 1 of the main frame, and this shaft has secured to it, preferably at apoint substanf .tially infront'of the operators seat 17 an arm 33 provided withia' series of lopenings 34. Ay foot lever-35 is pi'votally mounted at "raising and lowering the rear ,end of `the. "auxiliary frame includes a shaft 31wh1ch is mounted irlbearings 32 upon the side memits `forward end ina bearing f36fupon the connecting side member l2. of the main frame and extends rearwardly `beneaththe shaft 31 and thence upwardly in the rear of the said sliaftrandis provided its upper end with a foot pi'ece37. f' A linlz 38 is pivoted to the -r' lever 35vand is pivotally connected by means of a bolt 39 witha crank arm', the bolt 3 9 being engageable interchangeably inthebear.-

ings 34, whereby the throw of the arm,^u.pon

move-ment the'lever V35. may lbe regulated. i'

As will be presently explained, thefoot lever is designed to b e swung downwardly by foot powerto raise the rear end 'of the auxiliary frame, and the means which is provided for holding the shaft 31 at adjustment will now bedescribed. A segmental 'rack 39 is Secured upon one of Vtheba'rs 10 and loosely mounted upon the shaft 31 is a hand lever 40 having the usual pawl device 41 for co'- operation with the rack whereby tohold the i l lever at adjustment. i This lever may be employed simultaneously with the foot lever 35 lfor rotatingthe shaft 31, but itsprimary function is to serve as'a stop for'lcoperation with an abutment device which is arranged upon the shaft' 31 and serves to holdthe shaft against rotation in one direction while permitting of its being rockedinlthe oppo# site direction throughthe depression of the foot lever 37 and without interfering with the lever 40. Y f j 2 The abutment device abovementioned is preferably, although `not necessarily, inthe form of a hollow box 42fhaving its forward and rear wallsinclined 'downwardly toward each otheryas at 43. yThe box is provided at its forward end with spaced collars 44 which are secured' upon the shaft 41 by means of setbolts 45. rI `he box is open at its lower end betweengthe collars 44 to receive the loosely mounted lower end of the shaft 40. Byreferenceto Figs.y 2, 3 and 5 of thedraw-ings it fwill beunderstood that rotation of the shaft 31 in the direction indicated by the'arrow, is'prevented-by reason of the engagement of th'eforward side or wall ofthe box`42" against the lever 40. 'It will'be apparent furthermore that. upon,v de- .pression of-the 'foot lever. v35-the arm 33 will i `beswung ldownwardly after'.l rotating the.

shaft 31in a di-rectionopposi'te to that indcated bythe arrow, such movement being limited only bythe engagement of the rear side or wall of the box 42 against the lever. The purpose of this structure will now be explained. The lends of the shaft 31 project beyond the bearings 32 in whichrthe shaft is journaled,and fixed upon each projecting end of the said shaft is an upstanding arm 46 to the upperend of which is'pivotally connected the-forward end of arod 47.' rlhe rear end of reach of the, rodsr 47 is pivoted to one yarm 48 of an'angle lever mounted for rocking movement asy at 49 upon the corresponding side member 1 of the main frame. The other arm of each of the said levers,`indicated by thenumeral 50, has pivoted to it the upper end of a link 5l, the `lower end of which is pivotally connected as at 52 to the corresponding side 'member 3 of the auxiliary frame. It will now be apparent that'when the shaft 31 is rocked in one direction or the other, the rear end of the auxiliary frame will be raised or lowered as the case may be. lt will furthermore be apparent that after therear end of the auxiliary frame has been adjusted to the desired height, the frame will be supported inv this mesheswith a beveled gear 57 upon the forward edge of the box 42 against the Alever 40. However, should it become necessary to drive the machine over a stump or other similar obstruction, the foot lever 35 may be swung downwardly'until the rear side of the box 42 engages with the lever 40. This movement of the foot lever 35 will result in the-rear end of the" auxiliary frame being further elevated so as to clear the obstruction. 4

- A shaft 53 is mounted for rotationwithin thetauxiliary frame at one side ofI the middle thereof and has fixed upon it at itsformeans of a pinion 59 whichmeshes withk a similar gear upon the shaft 28. A beveled gear 56 also fixed upon the shaft 28, meshes with a beveled bear 57 upon the y'forward end ofy a shaft 58whic'h is mounted parallel to the shaft "53 and at the opposite side of thev middle of 'thefsaid yauxiliary frame. In the--forward movement ofthe machine rotary ymotion is imparted'to the shafts 53 and 58 inj'opposite directions by means of a pinionf59 which meshes with `a gear 60 loosely' mounted upon the axle 5 and adapted to be connected for rotation therewith b v means of a clutch 611 which is splinedupon the axle and maybe shifted into and out of engagement with the clutch portion of the gear 60 through the medium of a hand lever 62 mounted upon the cross bar 9 at one side ofthe seat 17 thesaid lever being connectedby arod l63 with a rock arm 64 mounted upon that side memberr of the main frame which is locatedadjacent to the said clutch, the rock arm being, of' course, operatively connected withy the clutch 61.

It is preferable that shields 65 be mounted upon the forward end of the auxiliary frame, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to prevent the gears y54, 55, 56 and 57 becomingfouled with the standing stalks;y At

this point it is to be observed that the shaft 28is located concentrically with respect to the axle 5 and, consequently, the pinion 59 will mesh with the gear 60 at all pointsfin the adjustment of the segmental racks 14. The shaft 53 is providedadjacent its rear end with a squared portion 66 and at each endy of its squared portion is threaded yas at 67. Stalk pulling disks 68 are fitted upon each end of the squared portion 66 of the said shaft and each disk has a hub portion 6,9, the said hub portions of the two disks projecting toward each other and fitting into the ends of a spacing sleeve 70 which serves to properly space the disks. Nuts 7l are threaded on to the threaded portions 57 of the shaft 53 and may be tightened for the purpose of binding the hub portions of the disks against the ends ofthe spacing sleeves. In a like manner stalk pulling disks 72 are mountedupon the shaft 58 `and are spaced by spacing sleeves 73, the said disks 72 being mounted in precisely the ysame manner as the disks 68. By reference to Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, it will be observed that in the embodiment of the invention therein illustrated, there are three of-the disks`72 and only two of the disks `68, the two sets of disks being arranged in staggered relation and with the peripheries of the disks of the two sets practically touchingythe longitudinal median line of the machine. F or a purpose to be presently explained, the stalk pulling disks 68 and .72 are concavo-convex andy are, provided at theirk peripheries with teeth 74 whieh,`at"the convex'sides of the disks, are beveled as indicated at 7 5, so that the edges of the teeth will be relatively sharp.l 'I

The shaft7 6 is mounted in bearings 77 located one upon the rear crossmember 4 of the auxiliary frame and the yother upon a cross bar 78 which is secured at one end to one of the side members of the said auxiliary frame and at its other end to an arched bracket bar 79 which is secured'toa cross-'piece 80 atV the forward end ofthe auxiliary frame,A and to an intermediate arched portion 8l formed in the rear cross member of the said frame, the bracket bar extending longitudinally medially of the frame `as clearly shown in ,Fig 2 of the drawings. Fixed upon they shaft 76 are a number of peripherally toothed dragdisks 82 these disks being preferably equidistantly spaced and at intervals in the series alternating ywith fthe stalk pulling disks 72. A sprocket gear 83 is fixed upon theshaft 58 and asimilar gear`84 is fixed upon the forward endof the shaft 76, a sprocket chain being trained over these gears, Whereby te transmit rotary motion to the shaft 76 as the shaft 58 is rotated. The drag disks are designed for the purpose of draggingor carrying the pulled stalks bef neaththe knives which cut the stalks. A series of the knives is provided and each includes ya shank portion 86 secured upon the braoket bar ,7.9 and eXtending from the said bar in the direction of lthe drag disks 8 2 The imite blades are indioated by the nurr-ieral 87 and are relatively long and arouate7 their eonoaye or out-tine edges being presented downwardly. By reference to Fig. l 0f the drawings, it will be observed that each of the blades 87 is located between two of thedrag disks 82 and that the backs of theblades arel substantially coincident with the upper edges oi the said drag disks, the putting edges of the bladesbeing loeated eo,.noentrieallyr to the said edges, of the disksvIn orderthat the pulled stalks may be directed to the cutting mechanism, they are provided with two or more yieldable deflectors 88, each comprising a suitable length of bar metal seoured at one end to the under side of that side member 3 of the auxiliary frame other than the side member adiaeent which the cutting mechanism is located.

The deflectors are'extended laterally in the direction of the last-mentioned side of the frame and are curved downwardly beneath the shaft ,53 as indicated at 89 Fig.l rl of the drawings and are thence curved to extend upwardly and substantially coincident with the peripheries of ,the disks7v2 as indieated at 90- The defleotors have their por tions 90 extending between the disks 72 as shown iny Fig, 2 of the drawings, and it will be observed that the. lewer end of the portion 90 of each of the deflectors is located substantially at the points of contact of the circles described by the periphells, of the disks 68 and 72.

Assuming now` that the auxiliary frame has been properly adjusted, the machine is driven alon the row of stalks to be cut and as the pulling disks 6 8 and .72 encounter the branches of thek stalks, the stalks are pulled up by the roots. As the stalks meet the portions 90 of the deflectors 88 they are turned so as to lie lengthwise against the edges of the disks 72 and are furthermore securely held in this position by the said 'portionsof the defiectors andare therefore prevented from being carried upwardly` and over by theJ toothed edges of the disks 68. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the flattened shanks 86 of the cutting knives assist the deflectorsl in holding the stalks across the peripheries of the disks '72 in position tol be presented to the drag disks "82, which disks, when they engage the stalks, carry the stalksfbeneath the cutting edges ef the knives 87 whereupon the stalks are cut into relatively short lengths. By refer: enoe to Fig- 2, it Will be observedthat the blades .87, are eaeh disposed at an angle to. the forward. one of the two disks between which it extends, s o that the stalks are ycut with a shear cut as distinguished from a straight cut, which would very likely result in the stalks being merely bent or brokenI It will be understood, of course, that the shanlrs 86 of the knives are resilient, so that the knives may yield in an upward direotion as the stalks pass beneath them to a greater or less degree depending upon the bulk of the stalks. It will also be apparent at this point that by bei/'eline the edges of the teeth at the convex side of the disks 68 and 72, the teeth are prevented from slipping out of engagement with the branches of the, stalks as the disks are rotated. Furthermore, due to the fact that the concaved sides of the stalk pulling disks are presented forwardly,

the proper engagement of the toothed peripheries of the disks with the branches of the stalks is insured, as the said peripheries of the disks will engage with the stalks or their branches, before the latter engage with the forward edges of the disks which would not be the case if the disks were plane.

ln order .to positively insure against retrof.

`efrade movement of the stalks as they are pulled upwardly by the disks 68 and 72 a shaft 91 is mounted in bearings at opposite ends of the arched portiQIl 81 of the rear side ofthe auuiliary frame, ,the shaft spanf ning the said arched portion and being pref vided with a number of radially disposed blades 92 having toothed edges 93. A beveled gear 94 is mounted at one end of the shaft 91 and meshes with a similar gear 95 at the rear end of the shaft 53. It will be apparent that as the shaft 53 is rotated retary movement in a forward direction will be imparted to the shaft 91 so that any stalks which may slip rearwardly will be engaged by the toothed edges oi the blades 9.2 and thrown forwardlyb Will also be apparent that any stalks Whieh might be .left standing after the pulling disks have passed will be likely to be pulled and thrown forwardly by the blades 92.

In order to restrain the supplemental frame against lateral displacement with respect to the fixed frame, bracket arms 96 are secured to the side bars ofthe main frame at or adjacent their rear endg and project downwardly beside the side bars of the supplementall frame, these arms being ofI a length sufhcient to engage with the side bars ofthe supplemental frame at all positions-of adjustment of the said frame.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is: A

l. In a machine ofthe class described, a frame, stalk pulling mechanism mounted in the frame, drag disks rotatably mounted in the frame, in juXta-position to the stalk pulling mechanism, and yieldable knives arranged in position to sever` the stalks acted upon by said drag disks.

2. In a machine of the class described, a frame, stalk pulling mechanism mounted in the frame, spaced drag disks rotatably mounted in the frame, and a yieldably supported knife having its blade portion projecting between the said disks.

3. In a machine of the class described, a frame, shafts mounted for rotation in the frame, peripherally toothed stalk pulling disks mounted upon the shafts, spaced drag disks mounted forrotation in the frame in juXta-position to the rst-mentioned disks, means for presenting the stalks pulled by the first mentioned disks to the drag disks,

and a knife arranged in j uXta-position to the said drag disks.

4. In stalk pulling mechanism, a support, stalk pulling disks mounted for rotation upon the support, the peripheries of the disks being toothed and the said disks having forwardly presented concave sides.

5. In a machine of the class described, a frame, stalk pulling disks mounted in the frame for rotation, a yieldable deflector eX- tending beside the disks and arranged to guide the pulled stalks in the direction of one set of the disks and to hold the stalks in engagement with the peripheries thereof, and stalk cutting mechanism arranged in juXta-position to the said set of the disks.

6. Stalk cutting mechanism including spaced drag disks, and a knife having its blade portion extending between the disks and inclined with its cutting edge presented toward one of the disks. n

7. In mechanism of the class described, a frame, stalk pulling mechanism mounted on the frame, and means arranged at the rear of the said mechanism for advancing the stalks having a retrograde movement, the

said means including a rotary shaft, and y blades projecting radially from the shaft.

8. In a machine of the class described, a frame, spaced shafts mounted in the frame for rotary movement, means for rotating the shafts, stalk pulling members fixed upon the shafts, the members upon the shafts be ing arranged relatively in staggered lrelation, a third shaft journaled in the frame, drag members mounted upon the last-mentioned shaft and positioned between the stalk pulling members upon the adjacent one of the first mentioned shafts, and a series of knives having resilient shanks iXedly mounted within the frame, the blades of the knives extending between adjacent ones of the drag members.

9. In a machine of the class described, a frame, shafts mounted for rotary movement in the frame, means for rotating the shafts, each of the shafts having a squared portion, sleeves extending between the disks upon the squared portions of the shafts, spacing sleeves extending between the disks upon each of the shafts, each shaft adjacent its squared portion 'being threaded, nuts engaged upon the threaded portions of the shafts and binding the pulling disks against the ends of their spacing sleeves, and a cutter mechanism arranged in operative relation to the said pulling disks.

10. In mechanism of the class described, a frame, stalk pulling mechanism mounted on the frame, and a rotary toothed member arranged at the rear of the said mechanism for advancing stalks having a retrograde movement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LONNIE WALTERS.

Witnesses:

J. H. BURTON, J. L. SANDERS.

G'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

